Arachnoid cysts: computed tomography findings

Described are 26 cases of arachnoid cysts. Of these cysts, 54% were in the sylvian cistern, three (1.2%) were in the suprasellar cistern, and the rest were over the cerebral sulci. There were symptoms of seizures at presentation in 30.8%, and in 23% there were symptoms of hydrocephalus and compression of the brain. A total of 61.5% presented with mental retardation and/or cerebral palsy. Trauma and infection accounted for 35% of these cysts. Associated porencephaly were present in five cases. There was a male preponderance. Left-sided lesions accounted for 61.5% of the lesions. The radiologic appearances, especially of suprasellar cysts, and the differential diagnoses of these lesions are discussed. Their recognition and the role of surgery are stressed.     

Breast cancer classification and prognostication through diverse systems along with recent emerging findings in this respect; the dawn of new perspectives in the clinical applications

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and the second leading cause of mortality due to cancer worldwide. The complexity of breast cancer resembles an intricate ecosystem comprising various cleverly designed interaction levels of internal and external factors to generate a pliable context in the clonal evolution of breast cancer cells. Principally, the complex entity can become evident toward delineating a number of significant variations in the specific fields of breast cancer analyses, including the molecular, physiological, and morphological characteristics, clinical presentations, risk factors, the histopathological conditions, and response to systemic therapy regarding the maintenance of tumor as a whole. In hindsight, various classification systems developing based on specific inclusion criteria have indisputably changed both our appreciation of the biological demeanor of breast cancer and the main strategies for designing tailored therapy regimens through the proper evaluation of diagnosis and prognostication of given specimens. Here, we endeavor to provide a general overview of different types of breast cancer classification as well as the clinical acceptance of their applications along with the latest findings in this area. Taken together, the major significance of breast cancer management that can be ascertained by operational convergent points of its stratification areas is owing to the fact that the achievement of individualized and targeted therapy may denounce new horizons of surveillance and treatment strategies in which they may function as a rheostat of specific therapy regimens toward reducing the detected distances between experimental data and operating options in clinical practice.     

Health-related risk behaviors among myocardial infarction survivors in the United States: A propensity score matched study

BackgroundAccording to the American College of Cardiology/the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) recommendations, health-related risk behaviors for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) are critical to determine.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare health-related risk behaviors between MI survivors and propensity-score-matched non-MI controls using nationally representative data.MethodsThis cross-sectional, matched case-control study used publicly available Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2017 data. Older adults with MI were propensity-score-matched to their non-MI controls. The 10 dependent variables included body mass index (BMI), smoking status, heavy alcohol consumption, influenza vaccine, length of time since last routine and cholesterol checkup, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity. Chi-square tests and binomial logistic regression were used to examine the health-related risk behaviors differences between MI survivors and propensity-score-matched non-MI controls.ResultsThe final study sample consisted of 18,021 MI survivors and 54,063 non-MI controls after propensity score matching. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed significant differences between MI survivors and matched non-MI controls in terms of cholesterol checkup, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. For example, multivariate analysis of health-related risk behaviors showed MI survivors were more likely to be smokers (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.28–1.68).ConclusionBased on this national survey of adults, MI survivors were more likely to be smokers but less likely to consume alcohol compared to their propensity-score-matched controls. Moreover, MI survivors were more likely to have their cholesterol checkup within the past 2 years compared to matched non-MI controls. Although lower alcohol consumption and greater chances of cholesterol checkups are reassuring health-related behaviors, interventions are needed to minimize the chances of smoking in this population.     

Molecular characterization of Toxocara spp. from soil of public areas in Ahvaz southwestern Iran

In the present study, the microscopy and polymerase chain reaction methods were used for detection and identification of soil contamination by Toxocara eggs in squares, streets, public parks, and rubbish dumps in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran.     

Application of Acoustic Bessel Beams for Handling of Hollow Porous Spheres

Acoustic manipulation of porous spherical shells, widely used as drug delivery carriers and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, is investigated analytically. The technique used for this purpose is based on the application of high-order Bessel beams as a single-beam acoustic manipulation device, by which particles lying on the axis of the beam can be pulled toward the beam source. The exerted acoustic radiation force is calculated using the standard partial-wave series method, and the wave propagation within the porous media is modeled using Biot's theory of poro-elasticity. Numerical simulations are performed for porous aluminum and silica shells of different thickness and porosity. Results indicate that manipulation of low-porosity shells is possible using Bessel beams with large conical angles, over a number of broadband frequency ranges, whereas manipulation of highly porous shells can occur over both narrowband and broadband frequency domains.     

Expression analysis of mTOR-associated lncRNAs in multiple sclerosis

Metabolic Brain Disease - mTOR has been shown to be involved in the regulation of immune responses and differentiation of immune cells. This protein is a candidate molecule for unraveling the...